Green Mile
SZA feat. Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't turn around to see who let one ring out
Said you'll never do me wrong
Guess we see how that plays out
Is it true? Is it true?
Headin' to the Massacre
Bodies arrivin' every day
Pickin' the bones up along the way
Let it ring out (ring out)
Let it ring out
Let it ring out
Let it ring out (ring out)
Sharpshooter in my backyard
Killed a small boy once, never told no one (no one)
If it wasn't for my shotgun, he'd be alive and I'd be halfway, to heaven
Instead of sittin' in the dark, goin' through hell you should've been here
Wish you had been here
Headin' to the Massacre
Bodies arrivin' every day
Look at those shells you heard
Pickin' the bones up along the way
Let it ring out (ring out)
Let it ring out
Let it ring out (ring out, ring out)
Let it ring out (let it ring out)
Shotgun to the back of my heart
I don't turn around to see who let one ring out
Lately I've been questionin'
Am I all that I pretend to be?
I doubt it, I doubt it
Lately I've been questionin'
Am I all that I pretend to be?
I doubt it, I doubt it
The lyrics in Sza and Kendrick Lamar's "Green Mile" describe the emotional turmoil that comes with betrayal and questioning one's true self. The song opens with the powerful imagery of someone being shot in the back of the heart, a clear representation of the pain and surprise that follows when someone is betrayed by someone they trusted. In the next few lines, Sza questions the promises made by the person who betrayed her and wonders if their promises to never do her wrong were genuine or not.
The theme of betrayal continues to play out in the chorus where Sza describes heading to the massacre, where bodies are arriving every day. The imagery of picking bones up along the way describes how the past hurt and betrayal have left emotional scars and that picking up the pieces is a never-ending task. The chorus emphasizes the need to let out the pain and ring it out, perhaps referencing how important it is to confront the hurt and confront those who caused it.
The rest of the song shifts to Sza questioning her own identity and whether she is truly who she pretends to be. The emotional turmoil is evident in the repetition of the lines "Lately I've been questioning, am I all that I pretend to be? I doubt it, I doubt it". The song ends as it began, with the metaphor of the shotgun to the back of the heart showing the ongoing battle between trust and betrayal.
Overall, "Green Mile" is a powerful song that confronts the pain and emotional struggles that come with betrayal and the need to confront that pain and let it out.
Line by Line Meaning
Shotgun to the back of my heart
Someone hurt me deeply and I feel as though I have been shot in the heart
I don't turn around to see who let one ring out
I don't want to face whoever hurt me and caused the pain
Said you'll never do me wrong
You promised that you wouldn't hurt me
Guess we see how that plays out
But now it seems like you broke your promise and we'll see how that affects our relationship
Is it true? Is it true?
I'm wondering whether your promise was ever real or if you were lying to me all along
Headin' to the Massacre
I'm feeling like I'm headed towards disaster or something terrible is about to happen
Bodies arrivin' every day
I'm seeing and experiencing a lot of pain and suffering in my life
Look at those shells you heard
I'm reminded of the past traumas that still haunt me every day
Pickin' the bones up along the way
I'm trying to move on from the past, but it's hard when reminders continue to pop up
Let it ring out (ring out)
I want to let go of the negative energy and emotions that are consuming me
Sharpshooter in my backyard
I feel like someone is waiting to hurt me and I can't escape my fears
Killed a small boy once, never told no one (no one)
I'm reminded of a past mistake or trauma that I never told anyone about and it eats away at me
If it wasn't for my shotgun, he'd be alive and I'd be halfway, to heaven
I feel guilty about the past and wish I could have done things differently to avoid the pain
Instead of sittin' in the dark, goin' through hell you should've been here
I'm struggling with my mental health and wish someone could be here to help me through the darkness
Wish you had been here
I feel alone and wish someone could have been there to support me through my struggles
Let it ring out (ring out)
I want to let go of the pain and negative emotions, and move on from the past
Let it ring out (ring out)
I want to release the pain and negativity in my life
Let it ring out (ring out)
I want to find peace in my life and let go of the past trauma and pain
Lately I've been questionin'
I'm starting to doubt myself and my life choices
Am I all that I pretend to be?
I'm questioning whether I'm living an authentic life or if I'm pretending to be someone I'm not
I doubt it, I doubt it
I have serious doubts about my self-worth and my ability to succeed in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Solana Rowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind